Button or coin batteries are identified by their small, bright and shiny round shape, and are generally found in electronic devices. If a product is small, electronic and not rechargeable, it most likely runs off a button battery. 

Examples of products that contain button batteries include:

• Watches, 
• Remote controls, 
• Car keys, 
• Flameless candles
• Children’s toys,
• Books with music or sound effects, 
• Thermometers, 
• Light-up shoes (batteries can fall out if soles are worn down), 
• wearable or handheld light-up devices, like bracelets, and 
• white nose sleep toy cuddly blankets containing devices intended to aid children to settle for sleep.

In Australia and globally, there is a growing record of injuries and deaths from button batteries. Research indicates that around 20 children a week are rushed to a hospital emergency department across Australia because they have swallowed or inserted a button battery. Source: (Queensland Government, Queensland Health –  Tiny, shiny and deadly: why button batteries are so dangerous for children 11/06/2024). 

The stark reality of button batteries is that, if swallowed they can lead to serious internal burns in as little as two hours. When a button battery gets wet – like from saliva if it’s been swallowed – it causes the electrical current in the battery to become corrosive. Depending on where the button battery becomes lodged when ingested, it has the capability to cause catastrophic injury and, in some cases, even death. Even if the battery is used and ready to be thrown away, it still produces enough electricity to cause burns inside the body. 

Unfortunately, despite the known health risks to young children, button batteries are still used in devices because they are viewed as a consistent and reliable source of power for portable electronics. Countless children’s toys are powered by or use button batteries to produce light and sound effects, including plush toys, toy cars, digital pets, early learning watches, light-up books headbands, games and novelty items. 

In Australia, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) prescribes mandatory safety standards that specify requirements for secure battery compartments on toys that contain button batteries. The complexity is that not all devices children access are classified as toys and therefore do not have to meet the same safety standards that toys do.

At Mother Duck, button batteries are on our radar because we know that young children (0-5years) are at the greatest risk due to their tendency to place small objects into their mouths, ears and noses. We commit to taking every precaution to protect your child from harm and from any hazards likely to cause injury, and we realise that the greatest safety risk to children from button batteries arises when children get access to the batteries.

Children gain access to button batteries in a variety of ways, including but not limited to accessing products with battery compartments that are not secure, poor-quality products which release button batteries when dropped or broken, spare batteries not being kept out of reach and used batteries not being properly disposed of.

Tips for your family to consider when buying, using and allowing your children to access devices with button batteries – 

• If buying a toy, household device or novelty item, look for products that do not use button batteries at all.
• Look for products that are powered by other types of batteries which are less likely to be swallowed by young children and do not present the same degree of danger if they are.
• Alternatively, look for products where the battery does not need to be replaced, such as where the product is rechargeable
• If you do buy button-battery-operated products, look for ones with a child-resistant battery compartment. This will make it much more difficult for a young child to access the battery.
• Buy new button batteries in child-resistant packaging – that is, the packaging needs to be opened with scissors.

REMEMBER TO:

Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and at Mother Duck we are committed to educating our early childhood community of educators, and sharing this important information with our families as often and repeatedly as possible so that we can ensure that the people in your child’s life are aware at all times of the dangers and risks of button batteries.

PLEASE…

If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery, contact the Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26. If your child is having any difficulty breathing, call 000 immediately. Prompt action is critical. 

• Do not wait for symptoms to develop. 
• Do not let the child eat or drink until an X-ray is taken.
• Do not induce vomiting.